Life is for The Living

Hello friends, family, and others who happened to stumble upon my quirky blog!

I am back and am excited to share my upcoming adventures with you all. Since I last posted on this blog, I have traveled to roughly 20 countries and feel very blessed to say they have all been positive experiences. I don't exactly know the direction I want to take this blog in the next few months, but hopefully I can figure out a clearer purpose in due time.

I'm about to embark on a month long trip through Asia (half of it to volunteer and the other half visiting friends), and I am unable to focus on anything else. However, the closer I get to next week, the more terrified I am. What if something dangerous happens? What if I eat undercooked fish or get food poisoning? What if I didn't pack enough clothes?

For most of those who know me, I am an organized and well prepared person (performing under pressure has not historically panned out too well for me), but I have never gone on a trip this long before. Also, I can feel myself getting homesick and I haven't even left yet! I hope all the books I'm packing will keep my mind off of things.

All jokes and insecurities aside, I hope to see the world. More importantly, I hope to change the world.... okay, admittedly that sounded less corny in my head. I'll keep this entry brief and to the point- keep me in your prayers!

Almost didn't make it in the deep blue: Miami, FL

ooohhhhh what to say about the infamous Miami, FL other than it was quite a show. In fact, I think we provided a little bit of entertainment to the beach go-ers on Miami Beach ourselves (more on that story later).

First of all, Florida has "tropical storms" during the summer where it rains like cats and dogs for an hour in the middle of the day (or night) and then it returns to the normal sunshine. So we attempted to carry around our umbrellas every where we could.

The second day in Miami we went banana boating (in Key Biscayne) and then jet skiing in Miami Beach. During our jet skiing experience, my friend and I were thrown off the jet ski and we happened to be in high tide waves. It was a horrible experience trying to stay afloat and learning that my swimming skills aren't as great as I had previously assumed. Lets just say the jet ski shop had to eventually fish our screaming, salty heads out of the water (they were laughing, but it was not a funny situation).

Nevertheless, the beaches in Miami are beautiful. I would recommend going to Miami Beach if you want pretty beaches (the water is gorgeous there). I also recommend walking along Ocean Drive (South Beach Miami) at nighttime- its so lively! We got to experience great Cuban food (almost the full reason why I agreed to go to Miami in the first place) and see live professional salsa dancing.

All in all: its been real Miami . . . too real. I think I'll come back soon for a second round ;) I am SOO sore from hanging on for dear life during our activities (time to hit the gym when I get back to ATL).

So many different shades of brown,
Maryam

p.s.- sorry no pictures this time around, I didn't want to get my camera wet. Next time I go to Miami (in a few weeks probably) I'll post pictures

Creating the Magic: Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL

I went on a road trip to Florida with a friend to Orlando and Miami (for a mini-graduation trip) and it was a great break to get away from the random rain in Atlanta. We only went for a few days, but the trip was well worth the relaxation time.

My main takeaway from Orlando was to go to Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure during the off season or off time of the week (we went on a Wednesday)- it makes the experience much easier to handle and much more enjoyable. We went to the park for about 7 hours and got to ride all the attractions we wanted (most of them twice too!) and never waited more than 15 min. to get on a ride.

I really enjoyed Islands of Adventure because of the meticulous attention to detail in each town/ attraction. Everything, from the employee uniforms to the fixtures on the buildings were "in character", they amplified the experience of being there. I guess its all part of creating that magical experience :)

Dr. Suess Land ride- adorbs! 

Harry Potter World candy shop clerks

Jurassic Park ride

Tooney town ride

My favorite town in the Islands of Adventure was Harry Potter world- great rides, great butterbeer (doesn't contain actual alcohol), and adorable shops.

yes they are my muggle friend, yes they are :)

Souvenir for my brother (if I don't eat it first): Chocolate frog and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Jelly Beans (includes Black Pepper, Booger, Candlyfloss, Dirt, Earthworm, Earwax, Grass, Green Apple, Rotten egg (ewww!), sausage, lemon, soap, and many more LOL) 

Hogwarts

Notice from the Department of Magical Transportation haha! 

Despite the heat and walking (Im pretty sure my swollen feet can't fit in my sandals right now), I def. enjoyed my experience at Islands of Adventure: its fun for adults and kids (but again: I recommend going during off season).

On our way to Miami to get in the water!

Gettin' all the more tan,
Maryam

Southern Charm: Atlanta, GA

So I am all moved in and settled in Atlanta. I'm living in an area called Little Five Points/ Candler Park, and everything here is so quaint and charming. All of the houses have porches, there is SO MUCH greenery, and I've found a surprising number of art murals on the streets.

Stolen from my roommate's phone: Tallulah Falls, GA (great hiking destination)

A dock in Piedmont Park

Cute, weird house in my neighborhood

Atlanta STREET ART part 1 (some random murals I found walking around) :

A small shop in my neighborhood- reminds me of Austin

On another note, I finally got around to buying some peaches from the local farmers market, and the verdict is (drumroll please): South Carolina peaches are far superior that Georgia peaches. Even though Georgia boasts about its peaches, if you ever get the chance to try SC peaches, its a def. must :)

Well I am off to Florida in a few days for a week (graduation trip), so expect a review/ pictures of Harry Potter World/ Islands of Adventure and Miami water sports soon (I ADORE water sports, my curent goals: learn how to surf and go scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands).

To end this post, I thought I'd post a cool mural I really liked: "Inspire Each Other"

Keep Smiling,
Maryam

EDIT- the weather here bites right now, it has rained all but 3 days here since I drove into Hotlanta. grrrr I might as well have moved to England if I didn't want to see the summer sun.

Peaches and Hip Hop Bound

As I am beginning to pack for my move to Atlanta, GA, I think it finally hit me that I am moving to a city where I don't know anyone and have never been to.

What the hell am I thinking? Did I seriously just voluntarily decide to move away from everything and everyone I know in exchange for a potential sliver of excitement and  enlightenment?

I'm not Henry David Thoreau seeking a transcendentalist state of being. . . I think the closest I've ever gotten to spiritual enlightenment was when I first tried the Molten Lava Cake at Chili's.

Yes, Life is very good . . . 

Many people I have met over my college career talk about wanting to go somewhere different (maybe abroad) and spend a few years traveling and exploring new things. But I only know one or two people who have actually done it. I guess I got caught up in all the excitement of a "new phase of my journey" that I decided to take the plunge into semi-deep waters (I'm not moving halfway across the world, but the foreign land of Georgia peaches and hip hop is a big move for me at 22).

The plague of the 21st  century . . .Reality TV ;)

Well its too late to turn back now. So on ward I must go...

So I haven't thought of a structure to this blog yet, but I am shooting for a blog entry every new city I travel to. Just a mini-bucket list of the next few months:

Things I want to do in the remainder of 2013:

• Travel to a continent on the other side of the world
• Travel to 2 different U.S. cities a month 
• Travel internationally at least 6 times before the end of the year 
• Go to at least 2 music festivals 
• Do 2 new things a month (an activity that I haven't tried before)
• Go visit my family more times than I can remember :)

I'm not a huge fan of bucket lists (probably because I hate being forced to meet a goal, it makes the struggle seem artificial and the victory less worthwhile, for me at least), but lets see how this goes. 

Next time I post, I will be in the ATL. Let me know if you have any suggestions on things to do, places to see/eat, or any general comments. 

Peace, Love, and Hippies,

Maryam 

Graduation Mania: Walking on Cloud Nine

I am not one to care much for my undergrad graduation. As I've told mutitple people, you're just doing what you are supposed to do- finish school. But that was before I went through the euphoria of graduation weekend.

There is something about everyone feeling so proud of you that makes you feel like solid gold :D I am lucky enough to say that the people that matter the most to me were able to make it to my grad (well, most of them were able to make it). I also got to catch up with a few old friends over the weekend too.

On another note, the commencement speaker did not live up to expectations. It was excruciating to see her attempt to connect to an audience that had little or no shared experience with the stories she relayed about her career. All I can say was that her speech came from a good place. There was one thing she quoted that I enjoyed:

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you."

As much as I dislike the blatant obessesion to praise oneself that plagues the "Me Generation" (Gen Y), I think that there are moments when you should shamelessly bask in the sunlight. So go ahead my children, enjoy your two seconds of fame.

Anywhooo, here are pics of family and friends on graduation day. Enjoy my lovelies!

Roommate and I at her graduation

First one to congratulate me: My little munchkin 

With all of the familia :)

bale bale! 

These lovely fools! Roomie pic. 

Yup, that's the highest I could get off the ground :)

The Greatest City West of the Mississippi

Austin, TX is the proud home of ACL, food trucks galore, and more old men jogging in dangerously short shorts than I can handle most days (lets just say there are some things you can't unsee). But there is so much more to the city, endless praise doesn't do this city justice. After living in the ATX, as it is so lovingly called, for close to 5 years now, I think it is time to move on to different things. 

But I feel one word can describe my experience here: liberating. 

If you are currently living in Austin, or even want to visit one day, I highly recommend getting to know the city as an entity- it has a "live and in color" personality that is only amplified by the city's tireless efforts to "Keep Austin Weird." 

This post is not offering anything new or extraordinarily thoughtful. Just thought I'd share my love for a city that never ceases to amaze me. 

Sweet dreams!

Austin Musts:

• get on the lake and do Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP); if its the first time, I recommend watching a youtube tutorial before going, they're helpful :) 
• eat at as many local food trucks as possible 
• check out a poetry slam (Spiderhouse Cafe has one every Tuesday night)